vatheon | Digital Domestic Saga continues

Entry tags:

Digital Domestic Saga continues

Who: Argilla and you
When: Sometime during the day
Where: Near the Plaza, though she's wandered away from it a bit
Style: Whichever, but starting in brackets.
Status: Open!

["Welcome to Vatheon. Welcome to Vatheon! Welcome, to Vatheon—"

The name of this place is about the only thing Argilla's been able to get so far, since she woke up here. That, and a towel, although she isn't necessarily sure what she should do with it until she sees the other newcomers using them. Being wet doesn't really bother her, after all, nor the torn and charred clothing—just as long as the dash of orange is still visible on her skirt, which it definitely is. Even the pain she'd initially felt is slowly subsiding, which she's been told is something she can thank the Coral for after she touched it. That large structure at the center of the city...

But other things hold her interest at the moment—like where this place is and how she got here, so she's slowly exploring. She at least hopes this means they were successful, her and Roland; but she accepts that it's probably unlikely she'd ever find out now.

She'd made her decision. And now...somehow she's living with it.]

Hmm? What is this?

It's...cold.

[It's just about then that she passes by what appears to be an ice cream shop, where a local stops her to offer her a free cone of ice cream. Apparently, Argilla's hair made him think of it—it's perfect for her! Because the first thing you do when seeing a person wet from head to toe (and still trying to dry off) is to offer them ice cream—

Ah. Regardless though, she takes it with a tilt of her head. She's supposed to eat it, she assumes, but it almost feels like it's going to fall off if she moves or touches it the wrong way. Besides, is it...looking at her?

...

The local goes on to explain something or other about the shape of the ice cream, about how it was specially made in the spirit of the Fisholympics which just took place-- but she's really looking for an excuse to leave and explore more.

Come to her rescue?

...Or don't. Whatever. She'll quietly leave eventually—]

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... Yes.

[She can't lie to him. But she also doesn't have to burden him with painful memories, if he doesn't know. She doesn't know how or why-- but maybe he just hasn't experienced it yet.

She's finally getting the feeling that this is a different Cielo than the one she left in the Power Plant Facility.]

But if we're stuck here, there are probably more important things to worry about. Right?

[Other than the past-- because in the end, what's done is done.]

[Ugh, he is no good at this. This is something Serph should be handling, not him. So when Argilla changes the subject, he goes right along with it.]

Ja, you have to learn all about this place.

[That is perfectly okay.

In fact, it's what she wanted Cielo to do, rather trap her in her awkward line of questioning before. She places a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, her frowning turning into a tiny smile.]

Tell me. Where should I start?

[It's time to give Argilla a crash course in Vatheon basics!]

Okay, first, there's no Tribes and no war. People here live peacefully.

[Mostly.]

Second, most people, they're not like us. But there's all kinds of people here. They can do all kinds of things and some of them aren't even human.

Third, we have a base here and you should go up to the island and visit the beach.

Cielo--

[Wow, should she be taking notes? She's used to Gale, who speaks more slowly when he's explaining everything. But he is also considerably less excitable, so it's probably a fair trade-off.

Her smile is widening still, even as she opens her mouth to tell him to slow down.]

[Except wait-- that last part. That last part, about the base and the island and...

What?

Her interest is definitely piqued.]

There's... there's a beach?

[Whoops, was that too fast? Ah, no worries, she'll get the hang of it quickly.

Right now, we're talking about beaches.]

That's right, there's a beach here. With sand and ocean and everything.

A real one...

[A real beach. She imagines there must have been one somewhere in the world, but it isn't as if they had time to think about it much once they arrived in the "real world."

Those memories she has...the ones they all have.

She refuses to believe they're fake. And even if they are, they're just going to make new ones. Here.]

I'd like to see it.

[It's the exact same reaction he had when he first heard there was a beach here. Cielo's not surprised - Argilla shares the same vague, distant memories that he does.]

You...wanna go see it now?

[It's raining up there right now, not the bright blue skies they always see in their minds. But rain at the beach has its own appeal.

And just seeing the beach, no matter what state it's in, would make Argilla happy, he thinks.]

I'd love to. Please.

[Not that Cielo's going to make her get on her knees and beg, but she has no problems being polite about it anyways. She's perked up considerably from a moment ago, though the events of the past still shadow her, lingering in her mind.]

Will you take me?

[As if he could say no.]

Sure, just follow me.

[He motions for Argilla to follow him, navigating Vatheon's streets with ease. Cielo by now knows Vatheon very well and he brings Argilla to the elevator, waving at the Station Master as the elevator doors open.

Ladies first.]

[Argilla is distracted by all of the things when she follows. This is a new place, so naturally she is curious about it, though she won't keep Cielo waiting. She'll just keep her eyes and ears open, and when he stops at the elevator, she does, too.

She steps inside when the doors open, looking around yet still.]

An elevator. It almost reminds me of the ones in our old base.

[Back in the Junkyard.

Heh, she almost looks nostalgic when she says it. It's been a while for her. And judging by the pitter patter she can hear from the rain, there is only more nostalgia to come.]

[The elevator goes up, up, and up before finally reaching the surface. The doors open out to the island. It's raining, but who cares? Certainly not them. Cielo steps out.]

Welcome to the island! It's just a short walk to the beach from here.

[And he starts to lead the way. It's not long before the sound of waves can be heard.]

[Sure enough, as she thought, it is raining. She'll continue to follow Cielo, but she can't help but stop for a moment to feel the drops against her face-- and to listen to the sound of waves, too, that only get louder as they approach.

Her eyes close, but she'll open them again not long after to take a look up at the sky, too. It's been a while since she's seen it this color.]

Do you come often?

I come here a lot.

[He slows down a bit. The beach isn't going anywhere. Brushing one of his dreadlocks away from his face, he continues.]

And at all times too. In all kinds of weather and during different times.

[He wishes Argilla could have been here that one night that ship was here and the glowing blue things were on the sand.

And there it is, right in front of them. The beach.]

It never gets old.

[It's true. The sky in her vague memories of the beach are a vibrant blue, not gray. But nevertheless, the environment is beautiful. Feeling the sand beneath her feet is something indescribable, and everything about the experience is breath-taking.

There's a wide smile on her face, and she doesn't even have to see Cielo's face to know he is smiling, too.]

I know the feeling.

[...

She continues to walk, though. Just seeing it isn't nearly enough, and when they get closer to the water, Argilla spots something half-buried in the sand.

She bends down to pick up a seashell.]

You should come back when it's sunny.

[Because that's when the beach most reflects what they remember. The sights, the sounds, and the smells put those memories to shame.]

Of course.

[She isn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon, after all, so there's no reason for her not to.

And the idea that anyone-- not just them-- could stand under the sun without turning into stone... well, that's pretty amazing in and of itself.]

...And look, Cielo. They're everywhere.

[Argilla's picking up even more seashells now. There sure are a lot, and they're pretty, too...]

[There's certainly a lot of seashells. Cielo remembers picking one up his first day in Vatheon. He picks up one himself and spots something in the corner of his eye.

...oh.

It's that crab. It blows a few bubbles out of its mouth and scurries away. He turns back to Argilla.]

Want me to hold them for you?

[...Oh, huh.

Honestly, she hadn't thought about about whether or not she wanted to keep them. And seeing the crap startles her for a moment, but she hardly has a chance to react before it scurries away.

Does he know that ~~demon~~ crab?

...]

Would you like to?

[She's amassed a bit of a collection in her hands now. But it isn't as if the seashells are heavy.

Argilla doesn't mind sharing, though.]

[The two of them go way back. They are two beings that have an understanding between them.]

It looks like a lot for you to carry all by yourself, ja?

[If Argilla has her hands full with holding shells, then she can't use them for other things like touching the water! Besides, Cielo is used to being a pack mule for his Tribe.]

[Hmm. He brings up a good point, so...after a moment of consideration, she does indeed decide to entrust them to Cielo. What better person is there for the job, after all?]

Thank you.

[And after making sure that he can indeed carry them all without dropping them all over the place, she'll move closer to the water; close enough so that she can feel it against her feet.

It's pretty cold today, too-- maybe because of the rain, so there's a bit of a shiver as a wave comes in.]

[Holding the shells, Cielo follows Argilla as she gets closer to the water. The waves reach just close enough to touch his feet before receding back into the ocean.]

So, what do you think?

[It's too bad that it's not warm and clear today, but cool temperatures and grey skies can't hide the fact that this is the beach and that it's real.]

[Despite the cold, she makes no moves to leave. She simply watches the waves recede and turns back to Cielo at the question.

In truth, she doesn't entirely know how to answer, but...

She manages anyway.]

I think I could get used to it here.

[Although she's still not entirely sure about this place... if she's with her comrades, it should be okay, shouldn't it?]

It seems you have as well.

[Sometimes Cielo wonders if getting used to Vatheon is a bad thing. Gale didn't quite approve of it at first.]

Well, I've been here for a long time, ja?

Digital Domestic Saga continues

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